THE FAITHFUL FOSTER-FATHER AND GUARDIAN

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

THE FAITHFUL FOSTER-FATHER AND GUARDIAN

Scrutatio 

for the 

FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH

MOST CHASTE SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

AND

FOSTER-FATHER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

JESUS CHRIST

(March 19, 2014. Thursday)

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

II Samuel 7:4 and 8-16 / Psalm 89:1-29 / Romans 4:13-18 / Luke 2:41-52

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

II Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a and 16 / Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29. / Romans 4:13, 16-18 and 22 / Matthew 1:16, 18-21 and 24a or Luke 2:41-51a

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Psalm 92:12-13 and 1 

Lesson: Ecclesiasticus/Sirach 45:1-6 

Gradual: Psalm 21:4-5 

Tract: Psalm 112:1-3

Gospel 

Matthew 1:18-21

Offertory: 

Psalm 89:24

Communion Antiphon: Matthew 1:20

For today's FEAST, let us meditate on this 15th Century A.D. Homily of Bernardino of Siena entitled:

THE FAITHFUL FOSTER-FATHER AND GUARDIAN

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: “Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord”.

What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph.

In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfillment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms.

Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honor which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth.

Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: “Enter into the joy of your Lord”. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: “Enter into joy”. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss.

Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.